disenfranchise
verb
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What Does It Mean to Disenfranchise Someone?
Disenfranchise first appeared in English in the 17th century, preceded for a period of some 200 years by the now uncommon word disfranchise. Though both words are, rather obviously, related to franchise, they have nothing to do with that word’s current sense “a team that is a member of a professional sports league." The original meaning of franchise was “freedom from servitude or restraint.” Although disenfranchise does broadly signify depriving someone of any of a number of legal rights, it is most often used today of withholding the right to vote, or of the diminished social or political status of a marginalized group.
Examples of disenfranchise in a Sentence
Solcyré Burga, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
The true impact lies in the quiet slicing and dicing of communities, fracturing coalitions, diluting voices, and disenfranchising voters.
—Matt Klink, Oc Register, 6 Sep. 2025
Gerrymandering Texas and California aren’t the only states where lawmakers are trying to manipulate congressional maps in a way that will favor their party and disenfranchise voters.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
In the coming weeks, Texas’s Democratic lawmakers will flee the state in an attempt to stop its GOP legislature from drawing a map that disenfranchises their voters and leaves Crockett’s House colleagues in danger of losing their seats in 2026.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disenfranchise
Cite this Entry
“Disenfranchise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disenfranchise. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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disenfranchise
verb
Legal Definition
disenfranchise
transitive verb
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